Isaiah, a pastor-preacher centuries ago while in prayer saw a vision of the Lord seated on his throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. And all those present with God were saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Isaiah, in that moment, realized that he was an unclean man of unholy thoughts and cried out, “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips.” The light of God’s holiness caused Isaiah to see the inconsistencies in his life and it forced him to admit that he was unworthy to be called a man of good intentions. 

The story line is found in the book of Isaiah chapter 6. The picture is of our creator, full of glory and holiness, shining brightly into the human heart of anyone willingly to look, exposing flaws, and causing people to gasp at their flaws, so that they cry out to God for guidance because they now realize how much they need his guidance or they will continue to live inconsistent and even destructive lives. 

The message is as meaningful for today as it was for Isaiah’s day. Our world is singing the song, “What the world needs now is love sweet love.” But we should immediately ask, “Is this love guided by God’s holiness or by humanities good intentions?” If it is love based upon humanities good intentions, then it might be distorted no matter how good the intentions are, and it will not benefit society as much as the well-intentioned person thinks. Why? Distorted love is “me centered.” Distorted love often says, “I will love you if you agree with me.” But that is not love. That is narcissism. And it does not fix anything, but it does destroy relationships.

Is this statement true? “If we all just love each other enough, our problems will probably slowly but surely begin to disappear.” No! Think of the many people who have said to each other, “Friends forever,” only to have that friendship unravel five years later. What happened? The inconsistencies within them that also cause wars, oppression, prejudice and destroy relationships, were at work, not God’s holiness. 

We need to see what Isaiah saw. We need to see truth, integrity, love and sacrifice working in harmony as directed by a holy God. When Isaiah allowed God to expose his inconsistencies with love, honesty, integrity, etc., the transformation within that he wanted and needed began. 

Isaiah’s discovery presents a truly clear message for us today. It is detrimental for us to trust in ourselves rather than in the holy God of heaven to direct us, because we too will keep promoting the same distorted tendencies. 

I encourage you to open the Bible to Isaiah chapter 6 and let the God of heaven illuminate your deepest and sometimes distorted thoughts and transform them with his holiness. I suspect you may also experience what Isaiah did. Now that you know what thoughts and intentions are distorted, you can let God transform them so you will become more of the person you want and need to be. 

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Rick Haworth is pastor of Hope Evangelical Free Church in Monroe.